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Vampire Bats

Vampire Bats are haematophagic creatures, i.e. their only food is blood. It feeds on sleeping animals in the night. Many of us have seen in English movies that vampires are really nightmarish creatures. So, I thought about knowing more of these vampire bats.

Photo by M. Fentonnature.com

1. Like all other bats, these are also nocturnal animals.
2. These are native to North and South America.
3. unlike what we would think, it is so small that it would fit in our palm (or may be a little bigger!) and weighs just about 60 g.
4. The bat’s saliva, left in the victim's resulting bite wound, has a key function in feeding from the wound. The saliva contains several compounds that prolong bleeding, such as anticoagulants that inhibit blood clotting, and compounds that prevent the constriction of blood vessels near the wound.
5. It has small ears and a short tail.
6. In one year, a 100-bat colony can drink the blood of about 25 cows.
7. Their usual prey are cattle, horses, pigs, etc. but occasionally humans.
8. They have few teeth but razor- sharp ones to pierce the skin.
9. Its saliva acts as an anticoagulant.
10. These are limited to warm climates.
11. Swollen muzzle, pointed ears are its remarkable external features.
12. Infrared sensors are located on the bat's upper lip and modified noseleaf.